“Making a decision about a care home can be overwhelming, particularly as hidden fees and unclear contracts are all too common.

“Care homes often increase fees at short notice, leaving people stuck in care they may not be able to afford. This is clearly unfair and could breach consumer law.

“The CMA’s guidance should set clear expectations for both care home providers and consumers. Consumers need honest and upfront information so they can make an informed choice when choosing a care
provider.

This isn’t the only work being carried out by the CMA in respect of the care home sector. The CMA has also published its final advice on the charging of fees after a resident’s death.

This final advice follows a consultation which took place earlier this year.

In a final report on this issue published towards the end of last year, the CMA raised concerns about some care homes and the extent to which they continue to charge fees after a resident has
died.

The CMA advice says they are unlikely to object to contact terms which permit a care home to charge fees for no more than a reasonable short and fixed period of up to three days from the day
following the resident’s death; and until possessions are cleared from the resident’s room by their representatives, provided a reasonable backstop of no more than ten days is included in the
contract terms.

You can read the final advice in full at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5b0fe9f7ed915d2cddac8268/death_fees_advice.pdf.